We are officially into the Christmas season and Russellville police are urging people to be safe in their cars, while shopping and at home.

To ensure the city’s roadways are safe over the next several weeks, Russellville police officers will set up rolling safety check points where three or four officers move from place to place around the city looking for people who are drinking and driving.

Russellville Police Department Public Information Officer Drew Latch said these mobilized check points might spend 30 minutes in one part of the city before moving to another location.

“We’ll be checking everything,” Latch explained. “We’re looking for people who’ve had too much to drink, but we’ll also be checking drivers licensees, insurance, seat belts and child restraints.

“The holidays bring out drinking at parites and we ask that if you drink, that you stay off the roadways, that you have a designated driver.”

Latch said that RPD officers, usually in pairs, will also be out in public shopping areas during the holidays patrolling on foot and interacting with people in busy stores and parking lots.

This is the third year for the officers in stores program and Latch believes the officers have a positive effect on the community.

“The sole purpose of having the officers there is to make sure everything is orderly,” he said. “It has great upside for the community.”

The number one crime in the city during the holidays is burglary and theft from vehicles, Latch said.

The way it usually works is the bad guy walks down the street pulling car door handles, he said.

When they find a door unlocked, they have access to the vehicle and it’s contents.

Latch urged residents to lock their car doors and to keep any valuables inside vehicles out of sight so no one breaks a window to steal your goods.

Another safety tip offered by Latch is to close your curtains in the window where your Christmas tree sits so people can’t see the gifts under the tree.

This reduces the chances someone might break into your house and take the presents.

Latch also urged people to beware of panhandlers in parking lots because in past years there have been instances of these people trying to snatch purses or bags from people they’ve asked for help.

He asked people to keep police informed of suspicious activity in parking lots and other public places.